Joana Monolagi is a Fijian artist and masi maker, whose work is in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery.
[note 1] In 1990 she began to learn how to weave and print masi (barkcloth), teaching herself from memories she had of watching women in Fiji make the cloth when she was younger.
"[5]In her artistic practice Monolagi combines traditional materials, such as masi and magimagi, alongside modern ones, such as iron-on fabrics.
[8][6] She also contributed a chapter on Fijian wedding traditions to the volume Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and the Wider Moana Oceania, edited by Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai, Karl Chitham and Damian Skinner.
[5] In 2020 Monolagi's weekly programme at the local Panmure Community Hall teaching Fijian women arts and crafts went on-line because of Covid-19.
[1] Other members of the collective included: curators Tarisi Vunidilo and Ema Tavola; artists, Dulcie Stewart, Donita Hulme, Margaret Aull, and Luisa Tora.